Chapter Fifty-Five

Talia's POV:

I wanted to scream, cry, and throw things, but I won't let myself fall apart right now. Instead, I nodded and pretend to be calm and reasonable. "I understand. I'm sorry, Nicholas. I will be sensible henceforth. Where you go will be my new home for as long as you want. Just let Jake go. Punish me instead. Please. "

"I'd like to believe your words." He looked almost regretful. "But I can't. You don't know me yet, so you're uncertain if you can believe me. I need to show you that I'm a man of my word. The sooner you accept the inevitable, the safer you'll be." And with that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something that looked like earbuds. Fixing them into his ears, he pressed a button, and waited a couple of seconds, then said curtly, "You can proceed." Then he turned his attention to the screen.